“They are advised to focus on issues-based campaigns that will make life more meaningful for all Lagosians. However, we understand that it can be overwhelming, frustrating, and depressing to contest against a highly successful incumbent who has become the yardstick for good governance.”
Politics
Jandor’s campaign train attacked in Ikoda, journalists injured
The campaign train of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, was reportedly attacked by thugs said to be armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.
The incident was said to have occurred while the convoy reached the Ikoga Junction area of Badagry Local Government.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to The PUNCH late on Sunday evening by the Lagos State PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Hakeem Amode.
He added that several members of the party and journalists sustained injuries in the attack.
The statement read, “The campaign train of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party was attacked today while returning from visitation to members of the party at the Ikoga Junction area of Badagry Local Government by All Progressives Congress sponsored thugs this evening.
“The attack led to injuries of several members of Jandor’s entourage and pressmen. As of the time of this press statement, one of the news reporters is in critical condition in an undisclosed hospital while those injured are been treated.
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“The thugs that attack the campaign train were shouting APC while shooting guns and using dangerous weapons.
“You will recall that our party raised concern over the threat to use APC-sponsored thugs to attack the campaign programs of our Gubernatorial candidate Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran-Jandor recently and we would like to state categorically that this will not deter the determination of our candidate to campaign for the next election and win the election come March 29, 2023.
“We would like to call on the Commissioner of Police of Lagos state and the Area Commander of Police in the Badagry division to do everything possible to fish out those behind the attack and necessary disciplinary actions taken against them to forestall such occurrences in the future and to instill confidence in our members that they will be protected during this campaign period.
“We would like to also strongly warn those that are hell-bent on causing trouble or planning to disrupt the campaign and elections that we would not fold our arms and watch as we will resist all forms of intimidation.”
However, in his reaction, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lagos State chapter, Mr Seye Oladejo, told The PUNCH that the PDP has resorted to propaganda to elicit sympathy from the public.
He said, “This is just another level in the propaganda machinery of the PDP candidate to curry public sympathy through blatant lies and unsubstantiated claims.
“The opposition party before now had more credible and accomplished candidates who flew their flags during elections and ran a good race. It is worthy of note that neither were they so desperate nor unnecessarily heat up the polity with needless lies.
“One cannot but wonder what led to the descent to the lowest abyss. Nigerians know too well that this is the season of endless comedy of the absurd coming from the stable of the professionals.
Politics
No Office of the First Lady Under My Presidency, Vows Omoyele Sowore
No Office of the First Lady Under My Presidency, Vows Omoyele Sowore
The AAC candidate pledges to slash governance costs by ₦4 trillion, abolish gubernatorial security votes, and end unconstitutional spending.
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has pledged to eliminate the Office of the First Lady if he wins the 2027 presidential election, describing the ceremonial post as an unconstitutional drain on national resources. Sowore emphasized that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution provides no legal standing or budgetary allocation for the spouse of the head of state.
Consequently, Sowore clarified that while entering the State House will not alter his marriage, his administration will refuse to assign official duties, staff, or public funds to his spouse.
Instead, he promised to champion women’s voices across all levels of government by appointing qualified female leaders to legitimate, constitutional offices rather than maintaining a ceremonial platform.
He condemned the continued allocation of taxpayer revenue to unofficial positions, arguing that such expenditures divert critical capital from infrastructure and social welfare.
Furthermore, the AAC candidate outlined a comprehensive austerity framework intended to slash the cost of governance by approximately ₦4 trillion. Central to this strategy, Sowore vowed to initiate constitutional amendments to outlaw discretionary security votes for state governors, a long-debated pool of funds historically shielded from public accounting.
Ultimately, he insisted that transferring these discretionary funds directly into state treasuries will help governments pay public sector wages consistently and fund vital public services.
No Office of the First Lady Under My Presidency, Vows Omoyele Sowore
Politics
Otti: I Won’t Become Political Godfather After Leaving Office
Otti: I Won’t Become Political Godfather After Leaving Office
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he will not become a political godfather or impose a successor on the state after completing his second term in 2031.
Otti spoke in Umuahia on Thursday while receiving former Social Democratic Party governorship candidate Ngozi Johnson-Chukwunenye and her supporters into the Labour Party.
The governor said he would prefer a successor to emerge based on merit and competence rather than what he described as a “sit-tight” approach to political leadership.
“I don’t want to be a godfather, and I don’t tolerate godfathers” Otti said, adding that political stakeholders should consider those capable of doing the job before supporting a candidate.
He also reiterated that he does not plan to seek another elective position after his second term, saying younger people should be given opportunities to take up leadership roles.
Otti Highlights Youth Leadership Programme
The governor said his administration was already preparing young people for future leadership through initiatives such as the Abia Leadership Academy.
According to him, more than 1,080 people aged between 16 and 25 had recently graduated from the academy.
Otti said the programme was intended to help prepare a new generation of leaders rather than encourage prolonged political control by individuals.
Meanwhile, he said his administration would continue extending its development projects beyond Aba and Umuahia into other parts of the state.
He said the government initially focused on the two major cities before moving into the hinterland with additional projects.
Otti: I Won’t Become Political Godfather After Leaving Office
Politics
2027: Tinubu May Mediate Wike-APC Governors Rift In France
2027: Tinubu May Mediate Wike-APC Governors Rift In France
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may intervene in the growing disagreement between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A senior presidential aide was quoted as saying that Tinubu could meet the concerned political actors while in France, where the President is currently on vacation. The aide said the intervention was likely to take place abroad before the end of the week.
The reported meeting has not been officially confirmed, and no formal truce has been announced between Wike and the APC governors.
The disagreement centres on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, which he has been promoting in support of Tinubu’s re-election while maintaining that the platform is separate from the APC.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving as FCT minister, has said his support for Tinubu does not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
Through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said he would mobilise support for Tinubu at the presidential level but had never promised that the PDP would withdraw from other electoral contests.
He has also maintained that he never approached the APC governors to join the Rainbow Coalition and that President Tinubu is aware of his political activities.
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Wike has cited the 2023 elections in states such as Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi to argue that voters can support different parties in presidential and state or legislative elections held on the same day.
The position has drawn opposition from the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
Its Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said after a meeting of APC governors in Abuja that they would not support political arrangements capable of undermining the APC, Tinubu’s re-election or the party’s candidates.
APC leaders in the South-East have also rejected Wike’s Rainbow Coalition and criticised his comments about the Progressive Governors, urging party members to maintain support for APC candidates across the ballot.
The disagreement has attracted differing reactions within the ruling party.
Ima Niboro, a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, described the situation as a disagreement among political actors who broadly support Tinubu’s re-election but differ over how that support should operate alongside other electoral contests.
Niboro urged Wike and the APC governors to end the public exchanges and concentrate on grassroots mobilisation.
Other APC figures have also taken different positions. Former House Minority Leader Farouk Adamu-Aliyu warned against any attempt to weaken the APC, while Kano politician Abdulmumin Jibrin urged APC governors not to embarrass Wike, arguing that the FCT minister remains relevant to Tinubu’s re-election effort.
The issue has consequently become a matter of political coordination within the wider camp backing Tinubu for 2027.
For Wike, supporting Tinubu at the presidential level can coexist with the PDP contesting other elections. The APC governors have instead stressed the need to protect the party’s candidates and structures.
The reported France intervention is therefore being viewed as a possible effort by Tinubu to manage the competing interests before they affect broader preparations for the 2027 elections.
However, the available report does not establish that a specific peace meeting between Tinubu, Wike and the APC governors has been scheduled in France. It only indicates that the President could intervene while abroad.
The outcome of any such intervention remains uncertain, while Wike continues to support Tinubu’s re-election and the APC governors maintain their position on party candidates.
2027: Tinubu May Mediate Wike-APC Governors Rift In France
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